Bio:
John Roland Craven (15 May 1947 – 14 December 1996) was an English professional footballer. He began his playing career as a defender, but also played as a centre-forward on occasion.
He was a player used in different positions. He had a battling attitude and seen as a fierce competitor. There was not a tackle he didn’t think he could win and he scored a number of key goals.
Craven made his professional debut at left-back in Blackpool’s 4–0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on August 27, 1965. At first, he teamed up with skipper Jimmy Armfield, but after failing to displace Tommy Thompson, he switched to half-back. After a period in the forward line he was put back in the heart of defence by Ron Suart.
It was Les Shannon who converted Craven to the forward line on a permanent basis, and it was his partnerships with Fred Pickering and Mickey Burns that helped Blackpool to promotion in 1969–70.
During the 1970–71 season, during which Jimmy Armfield’s appearances became sporadic as his playing career wound down, Bob Stokoe gave Craven the captain’s armband. Craven led Blackpool to success in the Anglo-Italian Cup Final, scoring the equalising goal as they went on to beat Bologna in the Italian city.
In 1971, Craven was voted Blackpool’s Player of the Year, but that September he asked for a transfer and moved to Crystal Palace. After two years with Palace, he went on to play for Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle before moving to Canada to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
He joined The Whitecaps in 1978 and quickly emerged as the leader of a unique blend of British and Canadian talents. Craven scored 10 goals in 70 games over the next 3 seasons, earned all-NASL honors in 1978 and captained Vancouver to victory in Soccer Bowl ’79, then closed out his NASL career with the California Surf in 1981. Sadly, Craven died of a heart attack in 1996 at the age of just 49.
Factfile:
- Full Name: John Roland Craven
- Position: Midfield
- Date of Birth: 15.05.1947
- Birthplace: Lytham St Annes
- Nation: England
- Caps: –
- Goals: –
- Club Career: Crystal Palace
- Period: 1971-73
- League Games, 63
- League Goals, 14
- Previous Club: Blackpool
- Transfer Fee: £35.000
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